To achieve immortality, I cultivate using Qi Luck

"Haha!"

Lu Hao, watching this scene, couldn’t help but let out a hearty laugh, casually tossing aside the severed head of a Liang general he held in hand, then shouted, "The Liang army has surrendered, the city tower has fallen, open the city gates!"

At the command, immediately, soldiers obeyed the order, swarming down from the city walls and heading towards the city gates.

After scattering the last few Liang soldiers who were defending resolutely, the Chu army worked together, and with the sound of creaking, the tightly shut gates of Mengshan Pass were finally opened by the Chu army.

"The gates are open!"

"The city gates have opened, the Liang army has been defeated!"

"Mengshan Pass has fallen!"

Seeing the city gates open, the Chu soldiers gathered outside the city erupted in joy, and then surged into the city amidst cheering.

Tens of thousands of Chu soldiers entered Guan City, and from the Southern Pass City opened by Lu Hao as the epicenter, the tide of soldiers quickly spread to all corners of the city, radiating outwards.

The news that the Chu army had entered the city also quickly became known to everyone.

Bang!

A streak of golden light wrapped in sword energy pushed back a clump of reddish Divine Fire, then dodged swiftly in the air to avoid another wave of scarlet flames rushing towards it.

The golden light hastily retreated dozens of feet back, creating a safer distance, and then heard cheers coming from the distant city.

In the midst of the light, a middle-aged general clad in black armor turned his head, and immediately saw the scene of countless Chu soldiers entering the city, his eyes almost splitting apart, his heart nearly leaping out in fright.

With the situation as such, he no longer doubted that some part of Guan City’s defense had been breached, allowing the Chu army to break through.

With so many Chu soldiers entering the city, nearly half the city had been occupied. Under such circumstances, driving the Chu people out was no longer possible.

The fall of Guan City was now a foregone conclusion.

"Haha, our grand army has entered the city, the people of Liang have lost."

"I wonder which royal brother achieved this, truly a great contribution."

The two Chu State princes, entangled with this black-armored general, of course noticed the change in the city. Realizing they were on the winning side, they were overjoyed.

After the surprise, both princes focused their attention on the black-armored Liang general.

"Eighth brother, the others have made great contributions, and we must not fall behind."

"Indeed, the credit for breaching the city is no longer ours to claim. But we can’t lose the credit for killing the general."

Conversing with each other, the two princes then simultaneously charged at the black-armored Liang general, shouting together, "Liang general, prepare to die!"

Boom!

The scorching wave of heat, under the searing flames, surged forward with even greater ferocity towards the Liang general.

"Damn it!"

The black-armored Liang general cursed under his breath, then, giving a glance at the approaching reddish Divine Fire, did not hesitate any longer, a flash of golden light, and turned to flee in the opposite direction.

With Meng Mountain Pass breached by the Chu army, the defense was evidently failing, its fall only a matter of moments.

Staying in this place, although he could continue to contend with these two Chu prince enemies for a while,

It would be meaningless.

The fact of the Chu army entering the city couldn’t be changed, and Mengshan Pass was no longer defensible.

The greatest purpose in staying here, under this reality, was completely lost.

To keep staying meant nothing but waiting for the Chu army to take control of the city, surround him, and then letting Liang lose a precious Inborn Grandmaster. It would have no other effect.

To stay was to seek death, to comply with the wishes of the Chu people.

Preserving a useful life to maintain the strength for Liang, to continue the fight against Chu in the future, was the best choice.

Therefore, the black-armored general did not continue to insist. When it was time to escape, he chose to flee without hesitation, not delaying for a moment.

"Cursed coward, don’t run!"

"Villain of Liang, coward, stop!"

Seeing their prey escape, the two Chu princes were immediately furious, cursing as they hurriedly pursued.

Similar scenes were unfolding across other Inborn battlegrounds within the city;

Upon realizing that the city gates had been breached and the defense of Guan City was irrevocably compromised, the other four Inborn generals of Liang’s army also chose to abandon the city without hesitation.

Losing the ground without keeping the people means both are lost.

Keeping the people without the ground means both can be preserved.

Even though this exact phrase does not exist in this world, similar military strategies are plentiful.

Under the progression and evolution of numerous wars, the officers of the Liang army had clearly come to understand this principle.

One hour later, amidst cheer and the occasional cries of agony, Mengshan Pass fell into the hands of the Chu army.

Lu Hao and the other princes, amidst both joy and disappointment, returned to the main camp outside the city.

"Father, your child has not failed your command, after fighting for ten days, we have finally taken Mengshan Pass."

In the main camp, Lu Hao reported to Lu Yuan with a joyous expression, alongside his brothers.

"Father, your child official feels ashamed, at the last moment I failed to capture the Liang general, allowing him to escape."

While some were joyful, others were melancholic. Among the several princes, not all were fortunate or powerful enough to break down the city gates or slay the enemy generals.

Of the five Liang generals inside Guan City, only three were slain in combat, while the remaining two escaped amidst the chaos, eluding the pursuit of the princes they had engaged.

Indeed, here were five princes who let their enemies slip away, missing the chance to distinguish themselves in this battle.

"Do not worry, victory and defeat are common in the art of war, and slip-ups are normal."

Lu Yuan regarded the several sons who were downcast due to their mistakes with a smile, without harshness, consoling them, "Moreover, I have been prepared for this. Before the siege, I had already arranged for several True Persons to guard near the city’s critical paths.

Those Liang generals might escape Guan City, but they won’t escape this ’Heavenly net,’ they’ll be caught in our ambush."